Detroit Tigers v New York Yankees - as it happened!

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 1 of their MLB American League Division Series baseball playoffs in New York, September 30, 2011 Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Preamble: The last time the New York Yankees split their first two ALDS home games with the Detroit Tigers was back in 2006. The Bombers never made it back to the Bronx, and the giant killing Tigers made it all the way to the World Series, three years after nearly setting a record for losses with 119. Since then, Detroit have been dangling in mediocrity, that is until late July, where they stormed past the pretenders in Cleveland, raising eyebrows around baseball down the stretch, hammering opponents.

At the center of it all is Justin Verlander, the pitcher who has a winning percentage of over .700 at home, and has been everything for the Central Division champs, winning 24 games en route to a certain Cy Young award and a possible MVP. He won't be the only ace on the hill tonight, CC Sabathia, who like Verlander was a victim of the rain in Game One, will go for New York in this vital Game Three.

The Tigers lost Game One, the suspended contest started by Verlander, prompting experts to declare advantage New York. But the Tigers came back on Sunday with a steady hand in starting pitcher Max Scherzer, whose first career start in the post-season settled nerves in Detroit, a supremo effort that held the big bats in the Bronx hitless into the sixth inning. Meanwhile, Miguel Cabrera supplied the offense for the Tigers, launching a two-run homer while going 3-4.

If CC Sabathia, who has an ERA of over 6.00 as a member of the Yankees while pitching in Detroit, can't pull it off tonight, then the Yankees season will come down to a must-win Game Four with AJ Burnett on the mound, a prospect no Yankee fan wants to consider.

Warmups: Detroit and New York are coming up in roughly ten minutes. In the meantime, turn on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra, where Nat Coombs and Josh Chetwynd bring you Tampa Bay v Texas, who are in the bottom of the eighth of their ALDS Game Three. Rangers 4 Rays 3

Warmups: This is where I write a nonsensical prediction, with big confidence after nailing it last night. I'm not going to sit here and tell you the Yankees are going to win, even if I do think they are going to win, because, well, in life, you have to keep it real and be true to yourself. You know that, right? Tigers roar 9-4.

Top 1st: At some point I will tell you about Detroit's unemployment rate, their economy and how much the Tigers mean to the city. But not yet. It's first pitch time, a basehit by the Yankee captain, Derek Jeter.

Top 1st: Curtis Granderson, back in his old stomping grounds, hammers a Verlander pitch all the way to the wall. Jeter comes home on an RBI triple. Fast start for NY. Yankees 1 Tigers 0

Top 1st: Cano down, courtesy of some 100 MPH cheese from Verlander, trying to wrestle back control here early.

Top 1st: Just so you know, I am impartial and I don't care what A-Rod does. So that means I don't get any joy out of his playoff slumps, at all--none. Rodriguez is now 0-9 in this series, albeit with two RBI's. His fielders choice brings home Granderson. Yankees 2 Tigers 0

Middle 1st: Not really what you want to see in the Motor City, your ace giving up two runs in the first. Leyland has a cool hand though, don't expect panic. Yankees 2 Tigers 0

Bottom 1st: CC Sabathia walks Austin Jackson due to the world's smallest strikezone. A little bit of a joke there. No sweat, the walk is wiped out in a 5-4-3 double play.

@Ilan_H tweets: "Hi David. Used to tune in late Sunday nights on Channel 5 to watch you and Jonny Gould. Man, they were fun times :-)"

They were indeed, but seriously folks, it's a lot more fun without Gouldie around.

Bottom 1st: A second walk for CC, and now he must face Miguel Cabrera. A big spot early for Sabathia.

Bottom 1st: You don't often see CC issue three walks in an inning. We're talking four combined first inning walks from two of the best pitchers in baseball. Cabrera at first with two down for Martinez.

Bottom 1st: Sabathia and the Yankees are out of trouble despite the wildness from CC. If Sabathia walks three in a frame, you must score. Still, the Yanks ace has already thrown 28 pitches, which is a positive for Detroit. Yankees 2 Tigers 0

Middle 3rd: Dare I say, it looks like the aces are settling down--cue the grand slam. Yankees 2 Tigers 0

Bottom 3rd: Brandon Inge, who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat (special thanks to Tommy Lasorda) smashes a lead off double to the wall.

Bottom 3rd: Walk number five for CC, and it's first and second with no outs for Detroit. Something has to give, right?

Stewart Brown writes on Facebook: "Yeah dave, mr cy young and cc gettin a little help from their friends with those DP early on... Both lookin a little rusty so far, 2 days rest, all be it not from full starts could be knockin their rhythm a bit..."

Definitely been a less than traditional start, but then again, they came off less than traditional rest.

Bottom 3rd: Something gave. Santiago's base hit to left brings home Inge, so he can be forgiven for not getting a sac bunt down. Sabathia approaching 60 pitches as Delmon Young singles to load the bases. Cabrera has all the cards here. Yankees 2 Tigers 1

Bottom 3rd: Talk about damage control. Sabathia giving up two runs after all those walks is the equivalent of getting away with, well maybe not murder, but something really, really bad where nobody dies or gets hurt. Still, we are back even in Detroit. Yankees 2 Tigers 2

Top 4th: It's seems like just yesterday that CC's off-season weight loss was a really really big deal. Now here we are in the playoffs already. Sometimes, life is just a big blur.

Top 5th: Posada, Martin and Gardner are brought to their knees by their master. School is in, Verlander is on. Yankees 2 Tigers 0

Bottom 5th: Huffing and puffing, labouring and lumbering. Big CC is digging deep here, the leadoff runner Brandon Inge is moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Ramon Santiago blasts one to left-center, and the home team is up. When is Girardi going to get CC? Tigers 3 Yankees 2

Bottom 5th: Was Freddie Mercury talking about CC Sabathia when he sang "Body Language"? Maybe, maybe not, but the vibes coming from the big man do not inspire confidence right now, either do the balls in the dirt. Tigers going for the throat.

Bottom 5th: A huge out for CC and the Tigers just get one with the Yanks ace on the ropes. He hasn't looked good, but credit him with keeping his team in the game. Tigers 3 Yankees 2

Top 6th: The crowd in Detroit are enjoying the Verlander show and so am I. What it must be like to watch this every five days. As a Mets fan, I may never know. Maybe they'll get Verlander when he's 37 and then he'll tear his ACL or something, that sounds entirely plausible. Tigers 3 Yankees 2

Bottom 6th: Why is CC still in the game. Why? I need a reason? NOW! Joe Girardi, you are a dangerous man. Peralta extends the lead with a run scoring double. Tigers 4 Yankees 2

Bottom 6th: The ace is chased. Girardi finally comes out and collects his pitcher, who didn't have it at all tonight and still only gave up four runs. Anyone else would be down 15 runs by now.

Bottom 6th: I wish I could tell you to see our ad in Golf Digest, but we don't have one, so just read this blog instead.

Bottom 6th: The Yanks escape, and are hanging around. We've seen this show before, but the difference this time around is Verlander. He may be too much, even for the huge bats from New York. At some point desperation will set in, because AJ Burnett emerges as their potential saviour if they lose this game, and I'm not sure his teammates believe in him, never mind their fans. Tigers 4 Yankees 2.

Top 7th: Now we're seeing just how important CC's performance was tonight, keeping the Yankees in the game. New York finally gets to Verlander, just when it seemed he was about to shut the door. A walk and a hit batsman leads to a Brett Garner two RBI double. We are tied. Yankees 4 Tigers 4

7th Inning Stretch: Because the Chicago Cubs will never, ever ever win the World Series, we'll have Harry Caray bring us Take Me Out to the Ball Game one more time. Here's to ya Harry.

Bottom 7th: Note to Girardi, relief pitchers need to pitch. They do like a little rest but not that much. Delmon Young takes the well-rested Rafael Soriano into the right field stands. Detroit are back on top. Inning over, damage done. Tigers 5 Yankees 4

Top 8th: La la la la. This is so easy, sometimes I find it boring. Yeah, I can throw this little pill anywhere I want, but if it gets dull, I like to give the other team a little glimmer of hope, when really, I'm just entertaining myself. Ho hum, I think I've had enough of this now so I'll just finish it up, throw a few 100 mph fastballs by that Teixeira guy, and then take a few playmates out to dinner while minting my own currency. Tigers 5 Yankees 4

Bottom 8th: Despite beaning Peralta, a strong inning from David Robertson (no relation), setting us up the top of the 9th. Jose Valverde, who didn't blow a save this season, but looked rough yesterday, is coming on to try and wrap this thing up for the Tigers. Tigers 5 Yankees 4

Top 9th: Because Jose Valverde is not Mariano Rivera, there's drama. With one out, Posada scratched out a walk, and his pinch runner Nunez stole second. Martin popped out to right field, then Brett Gardner walked, leaving it to the captain. Is Derek Jeter going to put the Yankees ahead? Usually, but tonight, the aura and mystique of the Yankees didn't find its way into Comerica Park. Papa Grande blows away Jeets and the ball game is over. Tigers 5 Yankees 4

Postgame: The Tigers come from behind to take a 2-1 ALDS advantage, setting up the nightmare scenario for Yanks fans--AJ Burnett is now the man of the hour--it's a sink or swim, career defining moment for the New York hurler, and no one will think he has a chance. Cue the no-hitter.

So that's it from our studios/Brooklyn basement--we'll be back tomorrow for a big day of baseball. For now, this Mets fan is going to sleep.